Tasmania marked down as foodie paradise

Jan. 10, 2014, 1 a.m.

AN INFLUENTIAL US- based food website has anointed Tasmania the big food destination of 2014.

Tasmania marked down as foodie paradise

Angela Pyka (left) from 41 degrees South with Tracey Martin from Petuna Seafoods, at the launch of the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail website held at The House of Anvers Latrobe last year. The Tasting Trail has been mentioned in Epicurious's prediction of Tasmania as the 2014 foodie destination.

AN INFLUENTIAL US- based food website has anointed Tasmania the big food destination of 2014.

Conde Nast's Epicurious has half a million Twitter followers alone and is an award-winning digital voice in food.

Epicurious said Tasmania was 2014's big foodie destination in the land Down Under.

"Long known for its wines, Tasmania's locavore- mad food scene has taken centre stage with nine cooking schools; a coast-to- coast tasting trail that takes you to berry farms, creameries, truffle hunting operations, and cider presses; and seafood tours that let guests help harvest oysters and fish for and smoke the region's famous salmon. That's all in addition to buzzy tasting menu restaurants like Garagistes, The Source, and Ethos. In 2014, they're redeveloping a former newspaper warehouse into a creative hub with a restaurant by star chef David Moyle."

Robert Heazlewood, executive director of the state's peak marketing body Brand Tasmania, said these type of endorsements were "very significant" to get.

"That's what we do, we try to make sure all these influencers around the world are aware of the good news stories about Tasmania," he said.

Mr Heazlewood said to become known in these circles internationally just takes time and Tasmania is now reaping the rewards for all the hard work that had been done over years to get the state's name out there.

"As more influential people discover us the word spreads at that level," Mr Heazlewood said.

"Only a couple of months ago another huge article was developed by Brand Tasmania ambassador, chef, Tetsuya Wakuda through a major international French-based hospitality food and beverage organisation."

Mr Heazlewood said Tasmania has become a major food destination, particularly in Asia.

He said Americans who visited Tasmania had a high regard for our food and beverages.

"It's a very sophisticated market and we're getting better at tapping the market," he said.

Mr Heazlewood said Tetsuya recently described as "life changing" his experience of the Seafood Seduction marine tour, a new gourmet eco-tourism experience created by Rob Pennicott.